Over 7 000 contract STIs in Midland

Midlands Correspondent
OVER 7 000 sexually transmitted infection cases were reported in the Midlands province between July and September this year.
Statistics released by the National Aids Council last week indicate that Midlands province recorded 7 342 STI cases between July and September with Gokwe South, Zvishavane and Vungu district constituting 50 percent of the recorded cases.

Speaking at the Nac third quarter provincial stakeholders’ meeting in Gweru recently, Midlands provincial monitoring and evaluation officer, Ms Margaret Mika said of the 7 342 recorded cases, 4 451 were in females while 2891 were in males.

She however, said the recorded cases had dropped significantly as compared to the same period last year.
Ms Mika said the recorded cases of STIs contraction could be attributed to inadequate condoms distributed during the same period.

“There was a decrease in new STI cases in the third quarter of 2013 where 7 342 cases were recorded compared to the same period last year where 7 795 cases were recorded with Gokwe South, Zvishavane and Vungu combined contributing 50 percent of the cases.

“There were less condoms distributed during the quarter compared to the same period last year. This is for both male and female condoms,” she said.

Ms Mika said Midlands had also recorded a high turnout to male circumcision during the same period.
“All districts have at least one team providing circumcision in the province, with 1 368 having been circumcised during the quarter.

“The programme improved during this quarter compared to the same period in 2012 due to training of circumcision teams, mobilisation efforts, outreach exercises and transport support to clients by PSI hence bringing the service closer to the clients,” she said.

Ms Mika said some parts of Midlands were also hit by a shortage of anti-retroviral drugs.
“There are 84 467 people on first line ART in the province, of which 6 297 are children and 78 170 adults. Stock outs were reported in Gokwe South and Chirumanzu due to logistical hiccups at Natpharm for Zidolum N and Nevirapine syrup,” she said.